Umbra Stalker MTG Card

Umbra Stalker thrives in graveyard-centric decks, growing in power with each card discarded. Chroma ability and mana acceleration complement each other, elevating the Stalker’s threat level rapidly. Stalker’s battlefield presence dictates opponents’ play, adding a strategic layer to the game.

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	7
Rarity	Rare
Type	Creature — Elemental
Abilities	Chroma
Released	2008-07-25
Set symbol
Set name	Eventide
Set code	EVE
Power	*
Toughness	*
Number	48
Frame	2003
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Daarken

Text of card

Chroma Umbra Stalker's power and toughness are each equal to the number of black mana symbols in the mana costs of cards in your graveyard.

Don't venture into the darkness, lest it decide not to let you leave.

Cards like Umbra Stalker

Umbra Stalker is a unique card from the visually haunting Shadowmoor expansion, boasting a reliance on the Chroma mechanic. This mechanic gauges the number of black mana symbols present in the mana costs of cards in your graveyard, thus inflating Umbra Stalker’s power. A notable parallel is Lhurgoyf, which derives its power and toughness from the amount of creature cards in all graveyards. While both grow in strength through graveyard interaction, Umbra Stalker diverges with its potential to become significantly stronger with just your own graveyard’s contents.

Another related card is Mortivore, often seen in decks that manipulate the graveyard. What sets Umbra Stalker apart is its ability to capitalize on black mana symbols specifically, rather than any and all card types. Mortivore can be limited in decks focused on black-heavy spells, where Umbra Stalker could thrive. Nighthowler, also echoing this theme, bestows its power and toughness based on all creature cards in every graveyard, serving both as a creature and aura, but lacking Chroma’s emblematic reliance on mana symbols.

To wrap it up, Umbra Stalker delivers a distinctive flair to MTG decks focused on black mana and graveyard play styles. Its strength compared to others in a similar niche is singularly tied to the volume of black mana symbols, making it a powerhouse in the right circumstances.

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Card Pros

Card Advantage: Umbra Stalker thrives in decks that focus on graveyard filling. As such, it can become a formidable force, given that its power and toughness are each equal to the number of +1/+1 counters on it, which in turn are equal to the number of cards in your graveyard. Over the course of a match, this can lead to significant advantage as every card that lands in your graveyard inherently boosts the Stalker.

Resource Acceleration: While not directly influencing resource acceleration, Umbra Stalker benefits greatly from mechanics that do, such as self-mill or discard strategies. These mechanics swiftly increase graveyard size, making the Stalker an increasingly larger threat at an expedited pace. Additionally, the Chroma ability of Umbra Stalker synergizes with multicolored mana acceleration, allowing it to fit smoothly into decks that ramp with various colors.

Instant Speed: Though Umbra Stalker itself doesn’t function at instant speed, its presence on the battlefield can be a deterrent to opponents. It requires careful consideration when they assess attacks or spells during their turn, knowing the Stalker can grow and turn the tide of battle post-combat or at the end of their turn when new cards might end up in your graveyard.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Engaging with Umbra Stalker requires a strategic approach to your graveyard. This creature’s power and toughness are each equal to the number of cards in your graveyard. Therefore, to maximize its potential, you might need to intentionally discard cards, which could diminish your hand and leave you with fewer options.

Specific Mana Cost: Umbra Stalker’s casting cost demands three black mana, which can be a hurdle in multicolored decks. This specific requirement means you need a solid base of black mana sources, which narrows deck-building options and may not align with your strategy if black is not your primary color.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Toting a mana value of seven, Umbra Stalker can be a tough play in faster-paced games, where efficiency is key. While its potential power and toughness can be substantial, the initial investment is significant, and in the world of competitive play, there are alternative creatures and spells that could provide more immediate impact on the game.

Reasons to Include Umbra Stalker in Your Collection

Versatility: Umbra Stalker can become a formidable threat in any deck focusing on graveyard mechanics. Its power scales with the number of cards in your graveyard, making it adaptable to various gameplay situations.

Combo Potential: This creature pairs well with cards that fill the graveyard quickly, such as self-mill strategies or dredge mechanics. These synergies allow the Umbra Stalker to grow rapidly in strength, turning it into a key component for explosive turns.

Meta-Relevance: In formats where graveyard strategies are prevalent, Umbra Stalker can shine. It adeptly capitalizes on common deck themes and can become a central player in matches where the graveyards are consistent resources.

How to beat

Umbra Stalker is a creature card with a unique ability that becomes more intimidating with each card in a player’s graveyard. Players facing Umbra Stalker may feel pressure from its Chroma mechanic, which pumps its power and toughness for each black mana symbol in all graveyards. Given this, disrupting Umbra Stalker’s power base is key to overcoming it.

Strategies to beat Umbra Stalker involve graveyard management. Cards like Relic of Progenitus or Tormod’s Crypt remove graveyards from the equation, essentially neutralizing the Chroma effect. Additionally, control tactics such as countering it before it hits the battlefield with counterspells or removing it once on the board with removal spells like Path to Exile are effective. The goal is to minimize graveyard card count or deal with Umbra Stalker directly.

Ultimately, a well-timed piece of removal or graveyard purging can stop Umbra Stalker from becoming an unstoppable force. By managing graveyards and utilizing key spells, players can mitigate the power of Umbra Stalker and maintain control of the game.

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Umbra Stalker MTG card by a specific set like Eventide, there are several reliable options to consider. One of the primary sources is your local game store, where you can often find booster packs, individual cards, and preconstructed decks from current and some past sets. They often offer the added benefit of a community where you can trade with other players.

For a broader inventory, particularly of older sets, online marketplaces like TCGPlayer, Card Kingdom and Card Market offer extensive selections and allow you to search for cards from specific sets. Larger e-commerce platforms like eBay and Amazon also have listings from various sellers, which can be a good place to look for sealed product and rare finds.

Additionally, Magic’s official site often has a store locator and retailer lists for finding Wizards of the Coast licensed products. Remember to check for authenticity and the condition of the cards when purchasing, especially from individual sellers on larger marketplaces.

Below is a list of some store websites where you can buy the Umbra Stalker and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Umbra Stalker has restrictions

Format	Legality
Commander	Legal
Legacy	Legal
Modern	Legal
Oathbreaker	Legal
Vintage	Legal
Duel	Legal
Predh	Legal
Penny	Legal

Rules and information

The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Umbra Stalker card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.

Date	Text
2008-08-01	Chroma abilities check only mana costs, which are found in a card’s upper right corner. They don’t count mana symbols that appear in a card’s text box.
2008-08-01	Chroma abilities count hybrid mana symbols of the appropriate color. For example, a card with mana cost {U/R}{U/R} has two red mana symbols in its mana cost.
2008-08-01	This is a characteristic-defining ability, which means it functions in all zones. You include the symbols in the Stalker’s own mana cost if you need to determine its power and/or toughness while it’s in the graveyard.